What peacemaking organizations involve Mennonites?

Christian Peacemaker Teams

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations and Friends Meetings. CPT has worked in Gaza, Haiti, Washington, DC, Hebron, Bosnia, Chechnya, Ontario and Richmond, Virginia. In all locations, CPT responds to invitations from grassroots movements seeking to reduce violence and rectify injustice in nonviolent ways.

The idea for this organization grew from a speech by Brethren theologian-activist Ron Sider at the 1984 Mennonite World Conference in Strasbourg, France. He called Christians who believe in nonviolence to, in essence, put their lives on the line in support of peace.

Violence-reduction teams give skilled, courageous support to peacemakers working locally in situations of violent conflict and areas of militarization. Peacemakers engage in public witness, nonviolent direct action, accompaniment, human rights reporting, negotiation and conflict transformation. Corps members are available to enter North American and international crisis situations on a full-time basis for three years or part-time as reservists for periods of 2-8 weeks a year.

For more information on the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams contact:

Victim Offender Reconciliation Programs

Mennonite Central Committee helped pioneer the first Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) in Kitchener, Ontario in 1974. Now more than 70 such programs in the U.S. and Canada allow victims and offenders an opportunity to meet. Trained volunteers help victims and offenders listen to each other to find out what happened, express their feelings, and work out a restitution contract.

For more information on Victim Offender Reconciliation Programs contact:

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Daily Scripture

August 14, 2018

Please, O Lord, we pray, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life. Do not make us guilty of innocent blood, for you O Lord, have done as it pleased you. — Jonah 1:14 (NRSV) • Context: Jonah 1:1-2:10

Daily Scripture

August 13, 2018

Daily Scripture

August 12, 2018

May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter, this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first, you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. — Ruth 3:10b (NRSV) • Context: Ruth 3:1-18

Daily Scripture

August 10, 2018

Daily Scripture

August 9, 2018

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. — Malachi 3:10 (NRSV) • Context: Malachi 3: 6-12

Daily Scripture

August 8, 2018

He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the war horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nation… — Zechariah 9:10a (NRSV) • Context: Zechariah 9:9-13